Tubbs Hill pile burning starts Nov. 12. The hill stays open; some trails will not

City crews will burn slash piles left from 13 acres of fuel-thinning work, starting on the southeast side. Expect smoke downtown and trail detours.

If you see smoke rising off Tubbs Hill starting Thursday, Nov. 12, it is planned.

The Coeur d'Alene Parks Department will start burning slash piles on the hill at about 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, according to the city, as reported by KXLY 920. Crews will start on the southeast side and work across.

WHAT IS BURNING

The piles are branches and brush left from 13 acres of hazardous-fuels work, the thinning done to keep a wildfire on the hill from spreading fast.

WHAT IT MEANS IF YOU WALK THE HILL

- Tubbs Hill is not closed.
- Individual trails will close as crews move, and the city strongly encourages walkers to plan for that.
- Trail ambassadors will be on the hill to steer people away from active burning and answer questions.
- Signs will be at the main trailheads.

WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW YET

The city has not said how many days the burning will take. Pile burning depends on the weather, so the schedule can move.

This is separate from the Forest Service brush-pile burning on Canfield Mountain that we reported earlier this week.